NASA tells Cal scientists rovers will be spared (8:55 a.m.)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA says it is rescinding a letter that recommended budget cuts to the Mars program to cover the cost of a next-generation rover.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA says it is rescinding a letter that recommended budget cuts to the Mars program to cover the cost of a next-generation rover.

The move comes a day after scientists at the agency’s robotics center said they will need to hibernate one of the twin Mars robots and limit the duties of the other to fulfill a $4 million cut to the budget.

NASA sent a letter to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena last week asking it to reduce the budgets of several Mars projects to help cover the cost overruns of the Mars Science Laboratory set to launch next year.

In a statement today, NASA said: “This letter was not coordinated with the administrator’s office and is in the process of being rescinded. The administrator has unequivocally stated that no rover will be turned off.”